Clouds gather again for another NBBF crisis

The signs are ominous that another constitutional and leadership crisis will soon rock the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) following the alleged refusal or reluctance by the Engineer Musa Kida-led board to start the process for the 2026 election as demanded by the National Sports Commission (NSC).

Acting on advice from the Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC), the NSC has written formally to the present board of the NBBF to hold its elective congress in January 2026 when the tenure of the board is due to expire.

However, strong indications show that the Kida-led board has different ideas based on the controversial 2022 election which brought it into office.

Therefore, some concerned stakeholders who spoke to Weekend Trust Sports have alleged that the incumbent president and some of his board members may be eying a third term or tenure elongation.

They say it is for this same reason that even as the year comes to an end, the board has not deemed it necessary to convene the mandatory congress which would kick-start preparations for next year’s election.

2022 NBBF parallel elections

Similar to what happened in 2017 when the present NBBF president wrestled power from Malam Tijani Umar, there were two parallel elections in 2022 when one of the leading stakeholders in Nigerian basketball, Mr Mark Igoche, contested for the presidency against Engineer Kida.

In 2021, when the first tenure of Kida was about to end, the then Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare, decided that all elections into the different sports federations should be held in line with the guidelines and venue approved by the ministry.

However, the Kida-led NBBF insisted that their Congress had constitutionally ratified Benin City, Edo State, as the venue for the elective congress, arguing that under the FIBA-recognised constitution, only the NBBF Congress, not the Ministry, had the power to determine the venue.

Due to the fundamental disagreement, both rival groups held separate elections on the same day, January 31, 2022: One in Benin City, where Kida was re-elected for a second term, and another in Abuja where Igoche emerged as the president.

While the Kida faction claimed legitimacy based on the argument that the election was conducted under the FIBA-recognised NBBF constitution and had the presence of FIBA observers, Igoche’s group, “the New Face of Basketball,” also claimed legitimacy because they had adhered to the Ministry’s electoral guidelines and election venue.

This resulted in two boards, each claiming to be the authentic one. However, the presence of FIBA observers at the Benin City election gave the Kida board an initial advantage in terms of international recognition.

When it became obvious that FIBA was already working with the Kida-led board, Mr Dare then inaugurated the board on October 6, 2022, more than eight months after the inauguration of the same board by a legal practitioner as contained in the FIBA-approved constitution.

Uneasy calm over third term ambition

Meanwhile, amidst mounting claims that he is quietly planning to have another term or stay longer than January 2026, the incumbent president, Engineer Musa Kida, has neither confirmed nor denied his third term ambition.

Efforts by our reporter to speak with Kida proved abortive. However, sometime last month, a popular online publication, BNS Sports, reported that Kida had dismissed reports suggesting that he was pursuing a third term in office.

BNS Sports quoted him as saying, “Who told you I am going for a third term?” he asked rhetorically. “Ask those people you heard from that I want to contest for the NBBF presidency for the third term, not me, because I have never said that.”

However, the failure of the board to respond positively to the directive by the NSC to hold its elective congress in January has unsettled most basketball stakeholders who are already gearing for war.

No reason for third term, tenure elongation- Col. Ahmedu

A major stakeholder in Nigeria basketball and member of the current board, Col. Sam Ahmedu, tried to put things in perspective when he spoke to Weekend Trust Sports on the looming crisis.

Narrating how the present board came into existence, he said there is no basis for anyone to even think of tenure elongation because the board’s tenure started the day it was inaugurated on January 31, 2022.

He, therefore, said effective January 31, 2026, the tenure of the board would elapse as he maintained that those who are still talking about the inauguration of the same board by the former Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare, in October 2022, are doing so for selfish reasons.

Col. Ahmed said the very day the board was elected and inaugurated, FIBA, recognised it as the day the tenure of the board commenced.

“Our constitution which is our Bible, does not recognise life presidency. It provides that the tenure of each board shall be for a period of four years.

“Our election was held on January 31, 2022. Therefore, the lifespan of the board will end on January 31, 2026.

“The same constitution provides that the president and vice-president can only serve for a maximum of two terms.

“Anyone talking of October is not correct. The constitution which was written by this same board in 2019 does not provide for inauguration by the Ministry of Sports. It states clearly that a legal practitioner should carry out the responsibility.

“So, going by this same constitution, any inauguration by the Ministry of Sports in October remains null and void.”

Another stakeholder who spoke to our reporter on condition of anonymity said FIBA is waiting  for the federation to hold its elective congress in January, 2026.

He maintained that the international body is aware that the board was inaugurated in January 2022 and would cease to exist on January 31, 2026.

NBBF needs fresh ideas- Skambo

While the wait for a response from the Kida led board continues, a former D’Tigers player and current chairman of the Kaduna State Basketball Association, Pastor Skambo Morrison is appealing to the board to put the interest of the sport first to avoid another crisis.

“I know the current president is an enlightened man who knows the right thing to be done. The constitution is what was used to bring him on board and ease out Tijani Umar and it will be great for him to leave the stage when the ovation is loudest.

“For four years, there has been no congress, and I am aware that FIBA and NOC are aware that we are supposed to hold elections next year, on January 31.

“But to date, we are yet to get any notice, letter or communique from the board regarding the elections. There is no information from the president who is expected to call for a congress.

“However, if he fails to do so, the board can if two-thirds of the members call for it. No one knows what is happening concerning the directive from the NSC.”

Skambo, therefore, called for unity and sincerity of purpose in the best interest of Nigerian basketball.

“We need to improve the fortunes of our basketball at all levels. I have known Kida to be a board member for over 30 years now.

“From his time as Rivers State basketball association chairman to his current position. We need fresh ideas for our basketball,” he said.

What NBBF constitution say about elective congress

The steps below outline the preparatory process that must be followed for the conduct of a valid NBBF election, as stipulated by the FIBA-recognised constitution:

Key governance requirements

In addition to these steps, the NBBF Constitution, as recognised by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), adheres to international standards on governance, including:

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